Things to consider when booking a photographer:

Have you met them, checked out their social media, or even … like them? Omg, the horror of hiring somebody off of Facebook that you don’t know. Meet. Your. Photographer. It’s important for the photog to see how you interact with your hubby, too. You have to spend all day with them, so liking each other is a plus. They’ll be capturing intimate moments & I think being familiar with someone cuts down on the awkwardness. I absolutely adore all of my clients and enjoy capturing so many different personalities and stories. Get a latte. Book a consultation.

Lighting & Experience: Does their website feature a variety of different lighting scenarios, like bright sunlight & night images? Are they well-lit and clear? The overall aesthetic of a portfolio is important to booking. Look beyond a Facebook page. See if any full wedding day galleries are available. If not, don’t be afraid to ask. This helps see the entire day as a cohesive piece, instead of just highlights. I’ve found the hardest part of weddings is the reception lighting, so be sure to check those out! I have shot probably 85+ weddings in five years, so I have only a few available on my website. It would be overwhelming to put them all on there.

Imagine it now: On your 50th wedding anniversary, these portraits in your vintage album will inspired to grandkids to say “Wow, grandma! You had pink hair!” These are the conversation starters, the memory makers. These happy memories will remind you how amazing your day was, & I feel that alone is priceless. You won’t even think about how much you paid for them, you’ll just cherish that you have them. We do more than take pictures: We capture history & generational memories.

$$$$: Nothing burns more than a bad dollar spent, as my grandma used to say. You get what you pay for & it is an investment. Most experienced photographers often charge more because they are knowledgeable about an array of topics. Shooting in manual, learning to read light & compose images, experience with posing & guiding their client for shots, & even professional studio management, luxury product knowledge, & marketing and website design. Not to mention gear is expensive. I probably have $12,000 invested in my camera bag contents! It isn’t their first rodeo, so they know what to anticipate & plan beforehand to get the shots that you’ll be sure to love. Be prepared to pay $2500+ for an elopement wedding experience, and $4,000+ for all-day coverage. I’m just being honest, I hear all the time “I wish we could re-do our wedding photos because we paid our friend $500 because she has a nice camera.” The what?!

Contracts: The industry standard for a usually nonrefundable wedding retainer is 50%. Expect to pay this upon booking your date & signing the contract. Contracts for wedding photography investments are important because they protect you as a client & the photographer, too! I’m an OCD planner but also a go-with-the-flow kind of girl. I’m confident that even if your day doesn’t go as planned, we will get stunning images of your wedding day as you remember it. Be sure your consultation includes going over the timeline with your photog.

Second Photographer & Assistant: It’s important for photographers, even though that most of us work alone, so have an assistant there or on-call. Having a second photographer can also provide you with a more unique gallery of images. We’re human, sometimes we get sick, sprain our ankles or need someone to set up our flashes really quick. I normally always bring an assistant, at bare minimum, to be with me.

Insurance: Depending on your venue, you might have to carry insurance for your wedding in case anything catastrophic happens. Ask your photographer if they have business liability insurance & proper permits. All legitimate, tax paying businesses must carry insurance for liability reasons. Your photographer should have their own insurance if an injury or accident occurs. Can you imagine your drunk Aunt Sally knocks the photographer over into the pond. Two things suck: The photographer could be injured, and their gear might be damaged. If Pics by Patricia didn’t have insurance, you could be sued & pay her hospital bill. Yikes! Getchu someone legitimate. With insurance. That pays taxes. And can be held accountable in the court of law if your contract is voided.